Chapter 344: Let's take a mixed bath together

"What do you mean, I won't hold back!?"

"What exactly are you planning to do while someone's unconscious?"

"Taking advantage of someone's vulnerability and bullying a girl when she's fainted isn't just immoral—it's a criminal act!"

Kaguya kept her eyes shut tightly, holding her breath ever so slightly, making no move to "wake up."

If you really intend to do something inappropriate... then you'd better follow through.

Go ahead. Let's see just how bold you are.

Amamiya glanced at the supposedly unconscious young lady, and for a moment, felt a little awkward.

This wasn't some frail figure from a classic tale. This was Kaguya Shinomiya—strong enough to uproot a weeping willow if she so wished. There was no way she'd actually fainted.

She's obviously pretending.

Still, an opportunity like this was rare... Should he make the most of it?

A cool breeze swept through, clearing Amamiya's momentary lapse of judgment.

He exhaled and decided to take the sensible route. Sitting back down in the hot spring, he made sure to keep the silly young lady from slipping further into the water.

Splash.

He wrapped one arm around her slender waist and propped her up next to him. Though the move was practical, their close proximity brought an inevitable skin-to-skin contact.

The unprecedented sensation sent a jolt through Kaguya's body. Her already flushed cheeks grew even hotter, her heart pounding in a chaotic rhythm.

(Hayasaka lied!)

(Boys' skin isn't rough at all—it's actually…)

Amamiya, oblivious to Kaguya's inner turmoil, remained focused on ensuring she didn't "choke" in her "unconscious" state. In the dim light, he couldn't see her reddened face but couldn't help but notice her elegant neck and the delicate collarbone peeking from beneath her bathrobe. Even in the darkness, her beauty was undeniable, like a rare gem glowing faintly in the night.

He quickly averted his gaze, took a deep breath, and focused on the next logical step:

First, retrieve the bath towel he had carelessly tossed aside earlier.

While it was acceptable to bathe nude when alone, sharing a hot spring without covering oneself was another matter entirely.

Turning to reach for the towel, Amamiya's movement stirred the water, inadvertently lifting a corner of Kaguya's bathrobe.

Eh—hey?!

Kaguya's heartbeat spiked dramatically.

He's taking off my bathrobe?

That's too much!

I thought at most you'd steal a kiss while I was unconscious, but this is way too impatient!

Should she resist?

No, she reminded herself. She was supposed to be unconscious. An unconscious person couldn't fight back.

Moments passed, and to her surprise, nothing untoward happened. Instead, she felt Amamiya moving away. Unable to contain her curiosity, she cracked one eye open.

"Oh, he's just getting a towel…"

Relieved, Kaguya let out a small sigh. Her gaze drifted downward, but as soon as she realized what she was looking at, her eyes snapped shut in panic.

monster!

Boys really aren't cute once they grow up—they're terrifying!

Having wrapped himself in the towel, Amamiya returned to sit beside Kaguya. His gaze shifted to her face, which had turned a fiery red.

Up close, he realized how stunning she truly was. Her usual composed demeanor was absent, replaced by an endearing vulnerability. Her damp black hair clung to her forehead, further highlighting her delicate features.

Without thinking, Amamiya reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

As his fingers brushed against her skin, Kaguya's body gave the faintest tremor, but she made no effort to "wake up."

Her skin was unbelievably soft—so smooth and tender it felt almost unreal. His fingertips lingered, gliding down to her cheek. He couldn't resist pinching it lightly.

The sensation was... exquisite. Chewy yet yielding, her skin was truly extraordinary.

Beneath his touch, he could feel her rapid heartbeat.

Amamiya blinked and came to his senses.

Not resisting means... consent?

If it's anyone else, they would have been shoved into Tokyo Bay by now.

With a faint smile, Amamiya leaned closer and whispered:

"You're unconscious, right? So it's fine if I take things just a little further, isn't it?"

Kaguya's eyelashes quivered faintly, and her cheeks involuntarily puffed up.

This is going too far!

From childhood to now, no one had ever pinched her face. Yet here he was, not only pinching her cheeks but also attempting something even more audacious while taking advantage of her "unconsciousness."

Seeing that Kaguya showed no signs of stirring, Amamiya interpreted her lack of reaction as tacit consent.

He released her elastic cheek, his hand sliding downward before coming to rest on her delicate jade-like feet.

Fine. I won't hide it anymore. I'm a foot fetishist.

"Hmm…"

Kaguya instinctively tensed, her body stiffening as alarm coursed through her.

Wait. What are you doing?

Why are you massaging my feet while I'm unconscious?!

Is this some kind of prank?!

She felt like screaming, but her role as the "unconscious victim" left her trapped in silence.

"Um…!"

As Amamiya's fingers brushed against the soles of her feet, an inexplicable tingling sensation shot through her, like an electric current rushing straight to her heart. She couldn't help but let out a soft hum.

"…?"

The air froze in an instant.

Amamiya tilted his head, looking down at the still "unconscious" young lady. "Kaguya-san?"

"…"

Kaguya said nothing. After all, an unconscious person couldn't respond.

"So… should I continue?"

Absolutely not!

Kaguya bit down on her pink lips, tightly closing her eyes while trying to retreat further into the hot spring.

That feeling was too strange, and that sound I made… I can't let it happen again!

But Amamiya, holding her foot firmly, continued as if nothing unusual had happened. "It seems even when unconscious, the body still responds on its own," he mused.

Kaguya's eyelashes fluttered slightly, betraying her inner turmoil.

I've stayed "unconscious" this long. Waking up now would be mortifying! There's no choice but to keep pretending!

Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced the quiet night.

"Amamiya, get over here, quick!"

The voice came from the neighboring hot spring, and Chika's loud call shattered the silence.

Amamiya paused and turned his head in the direction of the voice. "What's going on?"

Sajuna's voice followed, panicked and urgent. "T-That thing showed up in the hot spring!"

It didn't take much to guess what they meant. Clearly, an evil spirit had appeared.

"How gross," Chika yelled, her voice carrying over the bamboo fence. "Amamiya, come over and use your invincible powers to drive it away!"

"I've already activated it," Amamiya replied calmly. "Isn't that enough?"

"It's not enough! You need to come here in person!"

"…Fine."

Amamiya sighed in resignation, gently setting down Kaguya's jade-like foot and leaning her against a nearby stone for support. Rising from the water, he turned and left.

The sound of his fading footsteps echoed faintly, leaving Kaguya alone in the quiet spring.

Only then did she open her eyes. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she pressed her burning cheeks into the water, releasing a stream of bubbles.

My first time taking a mixed-bath hot spring, and I nearly fainted. Yet all he did was pinch my face and grab my feet. What an idiot…

Meanwhile, Amamiya stepped out of the men's hot spring and into the corridor. After walking a short distance, he reached the women's hot spring.

Chika and the others were standing at the edge of the spring, wrapped in white bathrobes, towels perched on their heads, visibly unsettled.

As Amamiya approached, Chika quickly pointed toward the source of her complaint.

"There it is! I came here expecting a nice hot spring bath, and instead, I found that! It's so disgusting!"

Amamiya squinted at the corner of the dimly lit hot spring. Sure enough, a one-eyed evil spirit lay there. It resembled a grotesque kappa monster, though much larger in size. Its translucent, ghostly form was covered in layers of fat, and it incessantly spewed yellow liquid from its mouth.

The fear factor was average, but the disgust level? Off the charts.

Without hesitation, Amamiya activated his Evil Spirit Repellent Aura. A transparent flame erupted, engulfing the kappa-like spirit and reducing it to ashes in no time.

"I'm heading back," Amamiya declared, already thinking about the silly young lady waiting next door.

"Wait!" Chika called out. "We're coming with you."

Amamiya turned to her, eyebrows raised. "What?"

"That thing was so gross!" Chika shuddered and wrinkled her nose in disdain. "It feels like the hot spring is contaminated now. Let's go use your room's hot spring instead."

The suggestion gave Sajuna and Komi pause. While they understood that the evil spirit's bile wouldn't actually contaminate the water, the idea still left them feeling uneasy.

Amamiya raised an eyebrow. "Are you seriously suggesting a mixed bath?"

Sajuna hesitated, but Komi quickly shook her head, her face reddening.

"What are you even imagining?" Chika shot back, planting her hands on her hips. "Obviously, we'll go first. You can wait until we're done."

"That's right!" Sajuna's eyes lit up as she nodded in agreement.

Amamiya sighed. "Fine."

With their decision made, the group of girls headed toward the next room, leaving Amamiya behind.

Amamiya took the opportunity to check the yard. As expected, the silly young lady was gone.

He had intentionally raised his voice earlier, ensuring Kaguya heard every word. With this preemptive move, the risk of being caught in an awkward situation was conveniently avoided.

"Amamiya, wait out here for a bit," Chika instructed, clutching her bath towel tightly. "We'll take a quick soak first."

"Go ahead." Amamiya waved her off dismissively.

"By the way…" Chika paused, suddenly noticing something. "Where's Kaguya-chan? I don't remember seeing her earlier."

"I'm here."

Kaguya's cold voice echoed from a nearby corner. She stepped into view, her expression calm and composed, as though the earlier mishap—her accidental entry into the wrong hot spring and fainting—had never occurred.

Yet, despite her best efforts to appear unfazed, a faint blush lingered on her cheeks. Under the gentle light, her face glowed like the soft hues of sunset, ethereal and breathtaking.

The girls walked past Amamiya one by one, openly claiming the hot spring as their own.

What happened next required no elaboration.

Amamiya, now alone, returned to his room and played on his phone to pass the time. About half an hour later, the girls finally emerged from the hot spring, freshly bathed and radiant.

"I'm going to bathe now," Amamiya announced, rising to his feet.

"Wait a second," Shimizu interjected, raising her hand with a hint of hesitance. "I need to recharge. If I don't charge, I won't be able to use my phone tonight."

"Don't worry, leave it to us!" Chika grinned, giving Amamiya a thumbs up. "Lie down for a bit. Everyone, let's step on him a few times, and the charging will be done in no time!"

Kaguya froze, her delicate, nutmeg-hued toes curling instinctively. The memory of the earlier sensation in the hot spring resurfaced, and she quickly turned away.

"I'm heading back." Her voice was steady, but a tinge of embarrassment lingered.

Hayasaka, ever the dutiful maid, bowed slightly and followed closely behind her young lady.

"I'm not doing anything like that," Sajuna declared firmly, her cheeks puffing in defiance as she turned away.

Komi nodded vigorously in agreement. Even holding a boy's hand was mortifying for her—there was no way she'd ever step on his back.

"Hey, why is everyone leaving?"

Chika reached out her right hand, attempting to stop them, but the other girls, led by Kaguya, paid no heed. One by one, they exited the room, leaving Chika behind.

"Chika, looks like you're the only one left now," Amamiya said with a calm smile as he turned toward her.

"I'm not alone!" Chika retorted, taking a cautious half-step back. "Sister Shimizu is still here!"

Amamiya glanced at the guardian spirit standing nearby. "I understand," he said casually. "Sister Shimizu, you can return to the shadows now."

"Wait, Sister Shimizu, don't leave me!" Chika cried out in a panic.

"Sorry, Chika-chan," the spirit replied with a pitiful expression. "I'm just a humble little guardian spirit. I can't refuse Amamiya-kun's request... Have fun, you two."

With that, Shimizu smiled faintly, gave a small wave, and quietly faded into Amamiya's shadow.

Chika blinked, now standing alone with Amamiya.

"Just a moment ago, you were giving all the orders, and I followed every single one," Amamiya said, his tone slow and deliberate. "Now, I'm making a few small requests. That's fair, isn't it?"

Chika hesitated, blinking nervously. "What kind of requests?"

"Don't worry," Amamiya reassured her. "It's not like I'm asking you to play pocky with me again."

Chika's cheeks flushed red. "Even if you asked, I wouldn't agree to that!"

"How about a lap pillow, then?"

"No lap pillow," she said firmly.

"This isn't okay, and that isn't either," Amamiya sighed, feigning helplessness. "How about a back rub, then? That's reasonable, right?"

Chika's eyes widened. "You mean rubbing your back in the bathroom?"

"Exactly."

"That's even worse than a lap pillow!"

"..."

Without another word, Amamiya turned around and pulled off his pajama top, revealing his back. "Earlier, before I put my pajamas on, a mosquito bit me. I swatted it dead, but if you don't help me, I might accidentally smear its blood everywhere."

Chika leaned closer to inspect his back. "There's definitely a bite mark, but there's no blood at all... Hurry up and go to the bathroom already. If you take too long, they will get suspicious."

"Fine, fine."

The two made their way to the bathroom. Once inside, they focused on the task at hand—scrubbing backs.

"Hand me the towel," 

"Here." Amamiya said.

"Now sit facing the wall and don't move."

Chika squatted behind Amamiya, towel in hand, diligently scrubbing his back. Her movements were swift and practiced, exuding an air of experience.

Time was ticking—after this, she still had to step on his back for the so-called "recharge." But for now, she dutifully worked without complaint.

However...

"Why are you so good at this?" Amamiya couldn't help but glance over his shoulder.

Her technique was impeccable—perfect pressure, flawless rhythm, and exceptionally relaxing. It was almost too professional.

Chika puffed out her chest proudly. "Hehe, impressive, right? I take baths with Moeha all the time at home. I'm practically a certified bath scrubber at this point!"

Pop!

A sharp, playful slap echoed through the bathroom.

Startled, Chika blurted out, "Now it's your turn to scrub my back!"

Amamiya sat up straight, his expression serious. "Leave it to me."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Chika's face turned crimson as she frantically waved her hands. "That was a slip of the tongue! Forget I said that! Go away already!"